Marco Polo Announces Senior Appointments

21st May 2005

The Marco Polo Hotel Group has promoted John Alexander Girard to Vice President, Marketing & Operations and appointed John L Berndt as General Manager & Area Director of Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong.
Joining the Group in 1992, Mr. Girard’s most recent assignment is General Manager and Area Director for the three Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong. Under Mr. Girard’s leadership, the hotels undertook the consolidation of finance, human resources, technical, sales, public relations and reservations, resulting in a highly efficient and centralized management system recognized by the Hong Kong Management Association’s Quality Award “Certificate of Merit” in 2003. He presently serves as Chairman of the Canton Road Association and is 1st Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Hotels Association.Ê

Born in Malta, Mr. Girard speaks English, Italian, Maltese and Arabic and is a permanent resident of Hong Kong. His new responsibilities will include the development of group marketing and sales strategy, supervision of Marco Polo Hotels outside of the SAR, as well as pre-opening operations of new Marco Polo Hotels.Ê

John L Berndt has been appointed General Manager and Area Director, Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong. Recognized as an industry leader, he has opened and managed several Ritz Carlton hotels including the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay in San Francisco, the Ritz-Carlton Seoul, the Ritz-Carlton Singapore and the Ritz-Carlton in Detroit, Michigan.

His background also includes a wealth of experience in the development and operation of top quality restaurants for the Back Bay Group in Boston, The Rainbow Room in New York City and the Prism Hotel Management Company in Dallas, Texas. A graduate of Cornell University in the United States, he has served as alumni director and visiting lecturer for the School of Hotel Administration.

Mr. Berndt’s responsibility will be the supervision of hotel operations, marketing, and centralized services of The Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, The Marco Polo Gateway, and The Marco Polo Prince in Hong Kong.——-